A Transparent and Hard Zirconia-based Hybrid Film With Multiple Functions Benjamin Masheder, Chihiro Urata and Atsushi HozumiNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)2266-98, Anagahora, Shimo-Shidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 463-8560, Japan    A transparent and hard zirconia-based hybrid film multiple functions, such as exceptional dynamic/thermo-reponsive oleophobicity, thermal durability, reasonable hydrolytic stability, and anti-fingerprint properties was successfully fabricated by a simple spin-coating method through a combination of zirconium (Zr) tetra-propoxide with a branched-stearic acid (BSA). The effect of decreasing the BSA content (n) from n = 1 to n = 0.1 was investigated and found to significantly alter the oleophobic properties of the Zr:BSA films. Poor oleophobic dewettability was observed when n = 1 � 0.6, however drastic improvement in contact angle hysteresis and minimum required tilt angles was measured for n = 0.5. This shift in surface interaction was attributed to a change in the physical nature of the surface-tethered BSA, from tightly packed �solid-like� arrays in n > 0.5 hybrid films, to an arrangement in which the functional groups possessed adequate space to move and behave in a liquid-like manner. The increased liquid-like surface properties created using this approach are thought to reduce the resistance to motion of liquid droplets, allowing easier dewetting of low surface tension alkane liquids. In addition, thanks to the thermal stability of BSA, our Zr:BSA hybrid films displayed a greatly improved thermal effective range (maximum 200 �C). Nanoindentation confirmed that the hardness of the Zr:BSA hybrid films were markedly increased by curing at 200 �C for 1 h (from 1.95 to 3.03 GPa), whilst dynamic dewettability toward n-hexadecane was maintained. Small volume n-hexadecane droplets (5 �L) were easily set in motion, sliding across and off our best Zr:BSA hybrid film surfaces at low tilt angles (< 10�) without pinning. Moreover, they also showed thermoresponsive dynamic dewetting behavior and reasonable resistance to hydrolysis in an aqueous environment.ReferencesB. Masheder, C. Urata, D. F. Cheng and A. Hozumi, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 5 (2013) 154-163, 5 (2013) 7899-7905.

Transparent and hard zirconia-based hybrid film with multiple functions

248th National Meeting (2014)

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